Non Member Travel - Maldives

Luxury holidays Maldives
- Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa
- One&Only Reethi Rah

Luxury holidays Maldives

Introduction

An archipelago formed of 1,190 coral islands and 26 major atolls.

This is real Robinson Crusoe stuff. Only 202 are inhabited and 87 are exclusive resort islands—the beauty of them being, the only people on the islands are you, the staff, and other guests. More people are beginning to discover the Maldives and it is no surprise with some of the most luxurious hotel brands making some serious investment to create the best resorts. It’s popular with honeymooners, divers and those who really do want to get away from it all.

The best time to go is between December and April when it’s driest, but there are always good offers available in the low seasons.

The Maldives are essentially a dream destination for laid-back Crusoe-style retreats but many of us like to inject a change of pace and scene during our holiday. Not only is it possible to stay on more than one Maldivian island, or add a luxury cruise to a land-based stay, as here at Four Seasons at Kuda Huraa, you can also consider a number of two (or more) - centre options. In particular, both Sri Lanka and the very different Middle Eastern city of Dubai, are easily combined with these exotic tropical islands but there are also other routes available on which we’d be happy to advise.

Highlights

Beach life

Well after all, isn’t that why most people want to visit the Maldives? Indeed, the country’s plethora of tropical, palm tree-lined islands have made it one of the most desired-after destinations in the world and for many it symbolises the very image of island paradise. Soft white beaches, tall coconut trees, warm turquoise waters and uninhabited ‘Robinson Crusoe’ beaches are the picture-postcard appeal. In recent years, honeymooners have joined the ranks of scuba divers, snorkellers and watersports

enthusiasts under its spell.

Malé

Although most visitors just pass through the Maldives’ capital - it’s the island on which the airport is located - on the way to their resort island, it also has some interesting character of its own. Good-quality local handicrafts are sold in its shops, while it is also has some bustling fish and vegetable markets. The National Museum houses some impressive artefacts, including Sultanese thrones and palanquins. Malé also has more than 20 mosques, the most beautiful is the golden-domed Hukuru, or Friday Mosque.

The underwater world

Diving is one of the biggest draws of the islands, with vast numbers of tropical fish scuttering about the reefs. But that’s just the start of it - turtles, napoleon wrasse, mantas and morays, whale sharks, nurse sharks, hammerheads and rays. It’s like being in your own personal aquarium. Another highlight is the wreck of the Maldive Victory, a site alive with coral and fish. The atolls are also beautiful from the air.